Entering the future of robotics with new ideas

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2015-08-27 16:55:37

“Only those who push back the frontiers can develop new ideas”: This is the slogan KUKA has selected for its participation in this year’s IROS, International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, in Hamburg. From 29 September to 1 October 2015, researchers and developers will not only be able to get an up-close look at the innovative products from KUKA across 144 m2 of booth space, but will also have an opportunity to discuss visionary future concepts with KUKA experts.

When the focus is on the future of robotics, there is one KUKA product that is an absolute must at IROS 2015: the LBR iiwa (LBR stands for “Leichtbauroboter” (German for lightweight robot), iiwa for “intelligent industrial work assistant”).

In an application developed by students from the Kiel University of Applied Sciences, the sensitive lightweight robot will be challenging conference attendees to a game of Nine Men’s Morris. Its intelligent mobile colleague, the KMR iiwa (KMR stands for KUKA Mobile Robotics), will also be at IROS. The product – which unites the LBR iiwa and the KUKA omnimove platforme – supports the human workers in the factory of the future.

Mobile scenarios can also be planned with the KUKA youBot. Designed for research and development, the omnidirectional platform with a manipulator featuring five degrees of freedom is ideal for developing and testing mobile robotic solutions on a small scale. At IROS, KUKA will be showing a simple Pick & Place application and demonstrating how quickly it can be set up on the youBot. Parallel to this, an application from the factory of the future will be presented at the booth for the EU project “RoCKIn”.

In addition, the fundamentals of robotics will be explained in a mobile training cell equipped with the KUKA KR AGILUS small robot. The training cell is ideal for learning the basics in robot programming and operation. With the KR AGILUS and intelligent accessories, it is possible to create numerous exercises with varying degrees of difficulty.

Interested students can speak with representatives from the HR department about a career with KUKA. The company will also be represented at many other partner booths from EU projects and will be participating in diverse workshops with presentations. This will include the Futurism Forum organized and promoted by KUKA. Dr. Bernd Liepert, Chief Innovation Officer of KUKA AG, will hold a plenary address at IROS in his function as President of the European robotics organization, euRobotics AISBL.

With the appearance at IROS, KUKA underlines the relevance of research and development for the future of robotics. “KUKA influences the future. Through close cooperation with research institutes around the globe, KUKA plays a decisive role in determining which future technologies will be promoted so as to safeguard KUKA’s leadership in technology,” explains Rainer Bischoff, Head of Corporate Research at KUKA Roboter GmbH.

IROS is one of the two largest international research conferences on intelligent robotics in the world and brings over 2,000 researchers together from all over the globe every year to discuss innovations in robot technology. To emphasize the relevance of this area, KUKA is serving as a Platinum++ sponsor at the congress and the associated exhibition.

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